[Nathan's POV]

Father was famously outstanding, not only was his appearance charming, so was his personality. He was a prodigy in not only swordplay, but the ways of a merchant. 

Undoubtedly, he could've been king, yet he chose to remain a duke. 

Working as a merchant of the country, he became rich easily with the capital his status as prince. 

Such a man, of course, met an equally perfect woman. 

She was also of a noble birth, despite being an arranged marriage by Father's brother, the king, there was no unwillingness. 

Mother, was a talented mage, a violet ranked elemental mage. She could use all of nature's elements. 

Of course, an element cannot be compared to an unique infinity like necromancy, but having all of them was undoubtedly astounding.

Such a woman, was like the perfect other half for a perfect man. 

And as the fruits of their love, the two of us was conceived on the second year of their marriage. 

It was an joyous occasion to everyone, high prospects were placed onto our infant bodies, no one doubted that we would shine like jewels when our talents came to play. 

After all, we were their children. 

But perhaps even the heavens envied their good fortunes, disaster struck when mother became pregnant yet again, when we were two years old. 

As the wife of a merchant, she travelled with him frequently, during her last travel, she was in the early stages of her pregnancy, when she was at her most vulnerable. 

It wasn't anyone's fault she fell to sickness, father hadn't known of the pregnancy when they departed to another country. No one knew. 

Telltale signs of the sickness quickly appeared as the day of birth approached slowly but surely, by the time she was about to give birth, mother's tanned skin had became sickly pale at then. It was strange to see a demon of that race, with such pale skin. 

At the point, she could only lie on the bed, her limbs so weak she couldn't even hold a spoon without trembling. 

But despite all that, she refused to abort the child in her belly, she was determined to pull through.

And thankfully, mother had survived the birth. Strangely, after the birth, she seemed to have recovered, albeit there were moments of brief suffering, she could run again. 

However, it was as if unluckiness had a death grip on our fate. 

The child was born sickly and weak, even the child's hair was white, coupled with her skin, sometimes, you'd even worry if the child would disappear. 

When the child opened her eyes, it was far from red, it was a light pink. 

Such a child, who could barely even breathe, was no doubt destined to suffer in this country. 

Regardless, everyone doted on her, the small little girl, Nicolai. 

At the age of two, she loved to happily totter around the house, but because of her unusually small body and weak constitution, she could never finish exploring the entire house. 

But despite everything, the eyes that glinted of dangerous curiousity could never hold her still. 

Finally, she was allowed to leave the house, granted that mother and the two of us came along. 

Father, he was busy in another country. 

That was his job, after all. 

On that seemingly peaceful day, we went out on a carriage accompanied by four guards. 

It was a fun day, it had been years since mother could bring us out, ever since she fell to the sickness, I would only spend my days at home. 

Of course, it wasn't boring at all. We had many things to do, like taking lessons, playing around. 

My favorite hobby was reading. 

It was strangely fascinating how mere words could convey emotions, from endearment to indifference, hatred to sadness. 

Similarly, my sister also loved reading, we loved lying in the shade of the big tree in our yard while surrounded by books we had dragged out from the library. 

In the country, we visited the shops for nobles, but it was far from entertaining to the freedom loving sister I had. 

Her big eyes would wander around, and on many occasions her feet would follow. 

Everytime she was caught and reprimanded gently by mother, petulance and stubbornness would appear in her eyes. 

It was strangely adorable. 

Infected with her excitement, mother relented and had brought us to the market of normal citizens. 

It was overly boisterous, an enviroment I had never encountered. 

On the long street, along the roads, were countless stalls competing against each other, their owners shouting with voices louder than the other. 

It was a strange place, everyone seemed to be happy as they flocked to different stalls, indifferent to the sweaty clamouring and ear piercing shouts. 

But despite my protests, Nicolai fit like a key to a lock, with glittering eyes, she ran around in multiple spurts, her stamina too weak to allow constant running. 

Running for a short distance, she would stop at a stall to peer at its goods with curiosity before running to the other, all while a big fat smile decorated her pale skin.

At that moment, I also couldn't help but have a small smile. 

It would be a lie to say I hated her. But, there were times where I resented her, she was the one that caused all of this. 

If she wasn't in Mother's stomach, mother wouldn't have fell sick. 

She wouldn't have suffered. 

It was pitifully childish, my feelings, I was just a child yearning for love, drunk on the constant shower of affection. 

But at this moment, seeing the free smile of Nicolai, I couldn't help but be infected with a strange disease as well. 

Turning to the side, Naomi was the same. 

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That adorable little girl was someone the two of us will have to protect, her frail body was something the two of us would guard. 

After that, we visited the markets frequently. 

Nicolai had fell in love with that place, she was so happy visiting the markets no one could every deny her. 

Back at home, she was just a caged bird, the could play around, but all under the watchful eye of the servants. 

All because of her body. 

But at the market, we forgone the servants and gave her what she wanted, the chance to play around. 

She was different from me and Naomi, who grew up as candidates for the royal throne. 

She was just a small child, full of curiosity and bubbly happiness. 

But as the saying goes, "Curiousity killed the cat."

That day, I was willfully engrossed on a book, it wasn't anything much, it was simply interesting to me. 

So interesting I told mother and my two sisters to go out without me. 

I had thought that they would have fun and return, but I was wrong. 

They went missing. 

When I heard of that news, father was still at a distant country, he had been informed of Nicolai's hobby and had allowed them. 

After all, what could happen in their country, right? 

Wrong. 

Even after he had returned, there was no signs of his family. 

But with the help from his family of nobles and even the king, it was not impossible to find them. 

Even so, I was caged in guilt. 

If only, I hadn't done something as stupid as to read. 

What could reading ever do? 

If I could turn back time, I would've chose something like swordplay from the beginning. 

I could've protected them. 

When they were found, no, when she was found, Naomi was the only one left.

Mother was a powerful mage, indeed, but that was all in the past.

Nicolai was the first to pass, her weak constitution never stood a chance against rough handling.

Mother was defiled and killed. 

And they had planned on selling the last survivor to the king of a human country. 

It was repulsive, the acts of humanity. 

But the ones who even abduted my family from the beginning were demons. 

Who were the ones to blame? I asked myself that question. 

But never did I find an answer.

I simply had to pick up my sword and protect my last sister. 

When she returned, she carried a weak smile in front of father, who had already mentally collapsed. 

I was no better as well. 

Perhaps as a coping mechanism, she tried her best to be the child she used to be, she would smile and act childishly in front of father. 

But father never looked her way properly, he buried himself in work and came home so rarely you'd wonder if he really was our father anymore. 

Even so, she continued smiling. 

But she was different inside, what was left of that innocently aloof child was a scheming child who could only keep her guard up against everyone. 

I was the only one there to watch over her. Even when she smiled, her heart was in pain. 

From that moment, I threw away books and picked up swordplay. 

I would learn nothing, but swordplay. 

Just like that, two years passed, I became someone who was only good with a sword while my sister continued her heartless and willful ways. 

And I thought, everything would continue the way it was. 

Until father decided to have us adopt two little spirit foxes. 

Sister wasn't very excited, but she made a childish collar and named her little spirit fox childishly. 

And in all her curiousity, she experimented the beastman effect on it. 

It was hard to obtain the blood crystals, but father had managed to do it, and in all strangeness, it worked out. 

The small spirit fox became a little girl that looked five years old. 

But what was unsettling was her white hair and skin. 

Her eyes, they were not pink, but it carried the stubborness and curiousity of Nicolai. 

I couldn't help but look away. It was unsettling. 

In the next moment, she jumped off my carry and bolted off towards the exit, but was easily caught. 

No doubt, Naomi was surprised when she saw her own pet now a beastman that resembled her sister, her furrowed brows were nothing but evidence. 

The only true emotion the stupid sister of mine showed was the furrowing of her brows. 

Afterwards, I still couldn't look at her properly but I could hear that fluffy was sniffling.

Hesitantly, I called out to her but did not receive a reply. 

A maid who had seen the events brought over a towel, offering it to me, and it was promptly thrown over her. 

Finally, with the guts to look, I glanced at her. 

Ah, how cute. 

Pulling at her hand, I brought her back to our house and tucked her to bed, all while Naomi arranged for clothing to be sent over for the little girl. 

It was no doubt that our lives would change yet again. 

The next morning, I had been enjoying breakfast with Naomi before a maid ran over to the dining table with anger present on her face as she told us what happened.

The clothes Naomi had prepared and laid out, was ripped apart mercilessly.

Turning my head, I could see Naomi rubbing the bridge of her nose with closed eyes. 

Those clothes were made of silk imported from a far away country, something so ridiculously expensive not even nobles could afford. 

Out of consideration, Naomi had taken some from Father's storeroom and prepared it, thinking that any other material would be uncomfortable for the little beastman that wasn't accustomed to wearing clothes. 

It was unusual, to see her act so kindly. 

Yet, the little beastman had chose to rip it up. 

Taking a deep breath, she placed her fork down and went upstairs with a twitch in her face. 

And when we entered the room, it was indeed a mess. 

The little beastman had ripped some of the clothes apart, littering it across the room messily. 

In anger, she ran over and scolded the little beastman, but who knew, the little beastman would retaliate with scoldings on her own. 

Seeing this, a laugh escaped my lips. 

How long has it been, since I had seen so many expressions on sister's face? 

Also, how long has it been, since I laughed. 

Instantly, I received two glares and two similar shouts. 

And hiding the amusement on my face, I replied with a, "I wasn't laughing. " but I couldn't help but laugh again.

How long has it been since there was so much activity in this house? 

As I mused, I was suddenly toppled as the little beastman sat on my stomach with a petulant expression. 

Hitting me with her small hands, she seemed rarher annoyed. 

Was it, suppose to hurt? 

Before I could even react, my own pet ran over with a small bark before it toppled it's own sibling. 

After the fiasco, we set off to school after an hour's worth of screaming.

The little beastman really didn't like wearing clothes, huh? 

Everything seemed rather surrell, the little beastman acted like the little sister I had lost. 

The way she spoke without restraint, the way she couldn't read the atmosphere and did everything she wanted in her own way, made me nostalgic.

But even so, please don't oil yourself up naked while rolling in food. 

It's unsightly. 

Seeing her exposed to everyone present, I couldn't help but stiffle as I picked her up to wash. 

Seeing from the little beastman's expression, she thought I was furious. 

It wasn't so, I just......felt unsettled. Even sister saw the resemblance. 

On the way back, I still felt strange. 

But taking advantage of my confusion, she suddenly ran away without a sound. 

I didn't have a pet contract with her, and never noticed until I had entered the house.

Without knowing what to do, I simply tucked sister to bed, we could find the little beastman tomorrow. 

But when sister woke up, she laughed and ignored that matter. 

I couldn't tell, was it that she was afraid of going into the country, or was she afraid of what the little beastman will change in her. 

Even with her facade of indifference, her slightly furrowed brows gave away her conflictions as she had some guards watch the little beastman.

But even after finding out the little beastman was safe living at the orphanage in the slums, she was still worried. 

I know, because I saw her trip over nothing. 

Such a thing, never happened even when she walked around reading a book in her hands. 

Just like that, a week passed before one night, she suddenly spoke about the little beastman. 

Worried about her, sister had kept a constant watch on the bond, tracking her movement. 

And suddenly on this night, this beastman was on the move. 

At first, she tried to ignore it, but eventually she stood up. 

Despite her fear of walking around the country, she chose to step into the commoner area, headed for the slums. 

With a good number of guards with us, we followed her directions and attacked one of the slave trader buildings that had been a thorn at the country's side for a long time now. 

And when we located the little beastman, in a room that reeked of death, sister hesitated at the entrance.

In front of us, Elaine entered first. 

The both of us lingered at the entrance, our ears open for Elaine's next words. 

"Fluffy, are you there?" my breath was hitched. 

"Save me~" I sighed in relief. 

But seriously, what was this little beastman doing, to call out so happily even in this situation.

 Isn't she scared, at all? 

Walking in, now relieved that my fears were unnecessary, I saw the little beastman curled up in a small cage. 

"You brat." I couldn't help but feel angry, why did they even lock her up in such a small place? 

Seeing as Elaine was about to go and save the little beastman first, my body moves forward involuntarily as I blurted out suddenly, "Let me."

But strangely,  she told me not to. 

With a strange silence in the air, Naomi who had regained her bearings walked in. 

I could hear her hold her breath, taking a while before she could reprimand the little beastman.

Walking over, she released the little beastman.

And I walked over to carry her. 

Undoubtedly, she was terrified, wasnt she? 

Looking at the small beastman crying beastman in my hands, I couldn't help but feel strange. 

This little thing had changed the both of us in a strange, yet good way. 

She was......strangely adorable.

I think, the strange disease I had back then......relasped.